Pliees



EMIL J'. SWANSON, OF NORTON TOWNSHIP, IVIUSKEGON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

PLIERS.

Specification of Letters Patent..

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Application led November 9, 1912. Serial N o. 730,316.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL J. SwANsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the township of Norton, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pliers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in pliers intended and adapted particularly for use in setting precious stones in rings or other jewelry.

The object of the invention is to provide pliers capable of accomplishing two functions; iirst, the spreading of the prongs or fingers which hold the stone; and, secondly, the clamping of the prongs around the stone. The invention, therefore, consists essentially in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, Figure l is a side view of my improved pliers. Fig. 2 is a detail inner view of the notched face of one of the jaws. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the outer ends of the two jaws showing their relative location, indicating the way in which they are applied for operation around a piece of work, the end of the notched jaw being shown partially in section.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different gures of the drawing.

l and 2 denote the two handles of the jaws, said handles being of the ordinary pattern and pivoted together by means of a pivot 3. The handle l carries the lower jaw 7, and the handle 2 carries the upper jaw 4, the relative arrangement of the two jaws being clearly indicated in Figs. l and 4.

The outer end 5 of the upper j aw 4 is provided with several notches on the lower face, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the object of the notches 5 being to engage prongs of a ring or other article whose prongs are to be clamped. The opposite end of the lower` jaw 7 has an outer portion S somewhat higher than the rear portion, that is to say, it extends somewhat nearer toward the upper jaw 4 than does the rear portion of the jaw 7, and this outer portion 8 is made oval and smooth in order to receive upon it the ring or other article without marring or damaging the latter, and holds said article up so that it may easily engage the upper jaw of the nippers as required during the manipulation of the same. Between the outer rounded end 8 of the lower jaw 7 and the rear portion of said lower jaw is 'a groove 9 preferably running on both sides of the lower jaw and having the function of receiving the article which is to be operated upon. Further, an opening, as l5, is preferably made in the lower jaw 7, generally in the outer part 8 of said lower jaw, said opening l5 being fitted to receive an earring 1n case an ear-ring is the article in which a stone isto be set.

To the upper jaw 4 is attached a plug or spreader 6. This has a shank 11 which enters an opening l2 in the upper aw 4 preferably about midway in the length of the latter, and the shank l1 is held in place by means of a set-screw 10 or some other equivalent device. The spreader 6 is preferably egg-shaped or oval, and has a shoulder which lits neatly against the underside of the jaw 4 when the plug 11 has been inserted in place. The plug or spreader 6 is used to spread the prongs of the setting. Obviously, the spreader 6 may vary greatly in size and shape. It is customary to employ a series of these spreaders for dierent settings, said spreaders varying in size and retaining the same general form but sometimes varying considerably in form, some of them being longer and narrower than others.

The ring or other article having a plurality of prongs around the point where the stone is to be placed, which prongs are to be spread, is placed over the lower jaw 7 of the pliers or nippers so that the prongs will come beneath the jaw 4. By the ordinary operation of the handles l and 2 the spreader 6 is forced down between the series of prongs and they are spread apart. After the stone is inserted, as at 14, the pliers are again manipulated for the purpose of bringing the notched end 5 of the upper jaw 4 into action on the prongs 13 to clench the same upon the stone in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Many changes in the exact construction and arrangement of the various parts may be made without exceeding the scope of the invention; and I reserve the liberty of mak ing such alterations and modifications in the precise embodiment as may best ft the device for actual use in a great variety of cases.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pair of pliers, the combination with a jaw having a series of notches on one face, of another jaw having its outer portion enlarged so as to extend somewhat nearer to the other jaw than does the rear portion thereof, said enlarged outer portion being oval and smooth to receive upon it the article to be operated upon, there being between the said outer rounded portion of said jaw and the rear portion thereof a groove running on both sides of the jaw and assisting in holding the article to be operated upon, a prong-spreading tool having a shank that enters an opening in one of the jaws, a set screw for holding the shank in place in the opening, said tool having a shoulder tting neatly against the jaw when the tool has been inserted in place.

2. The combination with plier jaws that are pivoted to each other, one of which is provided with a series of notches on its face, and the other of which is formed with an outer portion extending nearer to the opposite jaw than does its rear portion so as to provide an oval and rounded outer end adapted to receive upon it the article which is to be operated upon, of a prong-spreading tool having ashank, and a set screw for securing said shank to the notched jaw of the pliers, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL J. SWANSON.

Witnesses:

WVM. CARPENTER, EDAL M. Ocris.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

